Baltimore Attorney Christos Vasiliades Pleads Guilty to Obstruction of Justice

BALTIMORE, MD (March 5, 2020) – Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh today announced that Baltimore attorney Christos George Vasiliades, 41, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. The Honorable Philip S. Jackson scheduled sentencing for April 3, 2020. The maximum penalty for obstruction of justice is 5 years in jail and a $10,000 fine. The investigation was led by the Maryland Office of the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Unit and the Baltimore Police Department (BPD).

On April 11, 2017, a rape victim and her husband were approached by attorney Christos Vasiliades, who represented the man accused of the rape. Vasiliades warned that immigration authorities would likely be in the courthouse and that the couple could be deported if they showed up to testify. He also offered to pay them if they did not appear. Instead of accepting Vasiliades’ offer, the couple notified authorities.

On May 18, 2017, the BPD undercover squad supplied the victim and her husband with covert audio and video recording equipment in advance of a second meeting with Vasiliades. During this meeting, Vasiliades again offered to pay the couple if they did not attend the hearing. Specifically, Vasiliades offered $3,000, which would be paid to them in cash outside the courthouse. He indicated that after the case was dismissed due to their failure to appear, someone would give a “thumbs up” sign. They would then be handed the cash. He instructed them that if the assistant state’s attorney assigned to the case called them, they should tell him that they were not interested in coming to court. He again cautioned them about the risk of deportation if they showed up to testify.

“Vasiliades attempted to intimidate the victim with threats of deportation, and he tried to pay her off in order to clear his client of a serious crime,” said Attorney General Frosh. “Actions like these are a threat to public safety and to the rule of law. I appreciate the courage it took for the victim to expose Vasiliades. That courage enabled us to hold him accountable.”

In making today’s announcement, Attorney General Frosh thanked Organized Crime Chief Katie Dorian, former Assistant Attorney General Dennis Clark, Jr., and Assistant Attorney General Jared Albert, who prosecuted this case. Attorney General Frosh also thanked BPD Commissioner Michael Harrison for his Department’s work on this case, and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby.